[Repairing traumatic partial helical defect with postauricular tube flap].
OBJECTIVE
To investigate the effect of postauricular tube flap for repairing traumatic partial helical defect.


METHODS
The tube flaps were designed according to the site and size of helical defects. The length of tube flaps was 1.2 - 1.5 times as the length of the defects. The length-to-width ratio of tube flap was 3 - 4:1. The procedures required three stages for completion: (1) fabrication of tube flap; (2) 2 - 3 weeks later, division of one pedicle and insetting the flap; (3) 2 - 3 weeks later, complete division of pedicle and repairing the defects.


RESULTS
From January 1998 to June 2006, 47 cases of traumatic partial helical defects were treated with postauricular tube flaps. All the tube flaps survived completely with no vascular disturbance, infection or necrosis. The patients were followed up for 2 months to five years with satisfactory results.


CONCLUSIONS
Postauricular tube flap is a reliable and simple procedure for traumatic partial helical defects with good cosmetic result and less donor site morbidity.
Ren
Min
M
Plastic Surgery Hospital, Peking Union Medical College, Chinese Academy of Medical Science, Beijing 100144, China. renmin1977@yahoo.com.cn
Teng
Li
L
Zhuang
Hong-Xing
HX
Jin
Xiao-Lei
XL
Xu
Jia-Jie
JJ
Lu
Jian-Jian
JJ
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D054644:Ear Auricle / Q000293:injuries* / Q000601:surgery*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008416:Mastoid / Q000601:surgery; D008875:Middle Aged; D019651:Plastic Surgery Procedures / Q000379:methods*; D016038:Skin Transplantation / Q000379:methods; D013524:Surgical Flaps; D055815:Young Adult